NASEO Newsroom

NASEO Comments: United States v. Volkswagen Group of America et al.

August 8, 2016

NASEO submitted comments on the Partial Consent Decree in the United States v. Volkswagen Group of America et al., stressing the need to allow states greater flexibility in the expenditure of Environmental Mitigation Trust Funds. Through the Partial Consent Decree, Volkswagen agreed to spend $14.7 billion to settle allegations of cheating emissions standards. Of that amount, $2 billion will be spent on national zero emission vehicle investments, and $2.7 billion will be used to establish an Environmental Mitigation Trust, which states and territories may use to invest in transportation projects that will reduce NOx emissions. Additional information on the Settlement and opportunities for states can be found here.